Claims
- 1. An insulated drinking straw comprising:an inner tubular member; and an outer insulating member disposed around the inner tubular member that is substantially coextensive with the inner tubular member adjacent an end of the straw that contacts a person's lips, and which is separated from the inner tubular member to provide an air space therebetween adjacent the end of the straw that contacts the person's lips, and that is coupled to the inner tubular member at one or more predetermined locations, and wherein the outer surface of the outer insulating member is disposed to contact the person's lips while drinking with the straw.
- 2. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein the outer insulating member comprises an outer shaft that is connected to the inner tubular member, and has outer dimensions that are larger than those of the inner tubular member.
- 3. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein the outer insulating member is disposed adjacent to a drinking end of the straw.
- 4. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein the inner tubular member comprises a tubular plastic straw.
- 5. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein the outer insulating member has a cross section that matches the cross section of the inner tubular member.
- 6. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein the outer insulating member is connected to the inner tubular member by a plurality of ribs extending therebetween.
- 7. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein the outer insulating member is connected to the inner tubular member by a serpentine member extending therebetween.
- 8. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 further comprising an insulating material disposed between the inner tubular member and outer insulating member.
- 9. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 8 wherein the insulating material consists of a material from the group including foam, butyl, ethylene, propylene, fluorocarbon, fluorosilicone, neoprene, nitrile, silicone and thermoplastic elastomer, polyolefin, polytetrafluroethylene, polystyrene, resin, polyurethane, sponge, cellular silicone, polymer, cellulose acetate, and synthetic fiber.
- 10. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein distal ends of the outer insulating member and inner tubular member are sealed together.
- 11. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein the outer insulating member is connected to the inner tubular member at a plurality of locations that are separated by one or more predetermined distances from each respective end of the straw.
- 12. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein the outer insulating member is connected to the inner tubular member in a single area of the straw that is separated by a predetermined distance from each respective end of the straw.
- 13. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein the outer insulating member and inner tubular member are sealed together adjacent the end of the straw that contacts a person's lips.
- 14. The insulated drinking straw recited in claim 1 wherein the outer insulating member is coupled to the inner tubular member at one or more predetermined locations to prevent liquid from passing through the space between the inner tubular member and outer insulating member.
- 15. A method of drinking a liquid from a container comprising the steps of:disposing liquid in a container; inserting an insulated drinking straw into the container that comprises an inner tubular member and an outer insulating member disposed around at least a portion of the inner tubular member that is substantially coextensive with the inner tubular member adjacent an end of the straw that contacts a person's lips, and which is separated from the inner tubular member to provide an air space therebetween adjacent the end of the straw that contacts the person's lips, and that is coupled to the inner tubular member, and wherein the outer surface of the outer insulating member is disposed to contact a person's lips while drinking with the straw; inserting the drinking end of the insulated drinking straw into a person's mouth; and drawing the liquid from the container into the person's mouth such that the person's lips contact the outer surface of the outer insulating member.
- 16. The method recited in claim 15 wherein distal ends of the outer insulating member and inner tubular member of the insulated drinking straw are sealed together.
- 17. The method recited in claim 15 further comprising the steps of:disposing a lid on the container; and inserting the insulated drinking straw through an opening in the lid into the container.
- 18. The method recited in claim 15 wherein the outer insulating member and inner tubular member are sealed together adjacent the end of the straw that contacts a person's lips.
- 19. The method recited in claim 15 wherein the outer insulating member and inner tubular member is coupled to the inner tubular member at one or more predetermined locations to prevent liquid from passing through the space between the inner tubular member and outer insulating member.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/420,480, filed Dec. 8, 2000, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/189,968, filed Nov. 10, 1998, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1307555 |
Sep 1962 |
FR |
904010 |
Aug 1962 |
GB |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/420480 |
Dec 2000 |
US |
Child |
09/433627 |
|
US |